Kant's Enlightenment Philosophy: Ethics and Morality

Kant and the Enlightenment

Immanuel Kant is a central figure of the Enlightenment. He defines Enlightenment as achieving maturity. Kant advocates for every human being to use Reason to determine their destiny. Freedom lies in the responsible use of Reason. Freedom, responsibility, and moral autonomy are inseparable from the Enlightenment and Reason.

Kant's Moral Philosophy

Kant seeks to understand the moral being of man. He asks what can be considered inherently good without qualification, which is goodwill.

Key Features of Kantian Ethics

A main feature of Kantian ethics is that the weight of morality is on the intention, not the consequences. Reason, for Kant, requires universality and necessity in both pure (theoretical) and practical (moral) reason. Consequently, morality should be a priori, meaning ethics can only reside in the intention.

Types of Acts in Kantian Morality

According to Kant, there are three types of acts in respect of morality:

1. Act as a Duty

   This act is morally right, and its motive is respect for moral law, which is granted by Reason itself.

2. Act Contrary to Duty

   These acts are immoral, and the motive is not respect for moral law.

3. Act According to Duty

   These acts align with what is materially a duty, but the motive is not respect for moral law.

Kant's Metaphysical Postulates

Kant's thinking addresses metaphysical issues: God, soul, and world. He proposes the postulates of practical reason, which are:

1. Human Freedom

   Kant posits human freedom.

2. Immortality

   Kant sees the need for infinite time to achieve virtue.

3. God

   Only God can match virtue and happiness.

Kant's Formal Ethics

Kant proposed a formal ethics based on duty, grounded in universal and necessary reason. This is the criterion for a moral individual and a social life based on dignity. He also addresses metaphysical questions through practical reason.